People I looked up to a lot were, you know, Oprah because she had a rough childhood but overcame so many obstacles and broke barriers to become who she is. It was really eye opening to me: just because I had a rough childhood doesn't mean that I can't make something of myself.

Halima Aden

You Who Were

Skin care is so much more important than makeup. Makeup is for when you're having fun and going out. But your skin is forever.

Halima Aden

Car Your You

How boring would this world be if everyone was the same?

Halima Aden

Would World Very

Be who you are. It's easy to feel like you have to blend in, but it takes courage to live your life with conviction and embrace the person that you are.

Halima Aden

Life Courage Age

My favorite part of modeling is backstage. Every day you work with different people, and as much as people learn about my story, I get to learn about theirs.

Halima Aden

Work Art Age

I want to go see Somalia because I've never been there, and I feel like I'm missing out. I want to learn that heritage; I want to learn about my culture.

Halima Aden

Age Want Use

I am proud of being a Somali-American Muslim, and my wardrobe has been an important part of my religious and cultural upbringing.

Halima Aden

War Art Wardrobe

I know I got to do something that's one in a million, to escape a refugee camp, to come to this country and have so many doors open for me. So I want to go back and make a difference and give motivation or hope to all the kids that never got to leave or have the privilege that I did.

Halima Aden

Hope Want Vile

A lot of people will look at you and will fail to see your beauty because you're covered up and they're not used to it. So growing up, I just had to work on my people skills and give people a chance to really know me besides the clothing.

Halima Aden

Work Chance Your

I want everyone to live to their full potential without having to fear someone will try to knock them down or discriminate against them.

Halima Aden

Fear Without Wit

A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the perfect poster child for Islam. So I got a lot of Instagram comments like, 'Oh, you don't have your neck covered, you're not a Muslim!' My thing is, stop judging women, especially if you're a man, because you don't know the responsibility that comes with wearing a hijab.

Halima Aden

Women Men Your

If there's one message I want people to take away is never compromise being your authentic self. Even if that means making others uncomfortable.

Halima Aden

Age Your You

Every little girl looks up to her mom so much - that's your first hero.

Halima Aden

Mom Your You

There's always room to volunteer. I think that's a huge space to be involved with.

Halima Aden

Space Wit Ways

When I was younger, I got bullied for wearing my hijab.

Halima Aden

Younger Young You

I sleep with aloe vera on - it's super moisturizing and good for the skin - and I'll switch that up with honey, which I leave on for 10 minutes then wash off.

Halima Aden

Good Witch Wit

I mix things from my Somali culture and my American side.

Halima Aden

Things Thing Thin

I will stand up for a girl who is being harassed or bullied for choosing to wear revealing clothes. I will stand up for that!

Halima Aden

Will Who Wear

I feel like with anything you choose to do in this world, there are always gonna be people who disagree. But I've had a lot more supporters than critics.

Halima Aden

You World Wit

I feel best when I am modestly dressed. It's a choice I make and am proud of; for me, I don't think I have to show skin to be beautiful.

Halima Aden

Think Thin T

I learned that when you stand up for what you believe in, you'll get a lot of support. But there are always going to be negative things said about you.

Halima Aden

You Ways Way

I remember, when I lived in a refugee camp, it was the people who weren't Somali, the people who came from Western countries, who helped the most. I remember being six and thinking, 'I want to be one of those women,' because I knew how much they helped us.

Halima Aden

The hijab is a symbol that we wear on our heads, but I want people to know that it is my choice. I'm doing it because I want to do it. I wanted people to see that you could still be really cute and modest at the same time.

Halima Aden

What I have learned is that designers are willing to tell the world that they are here to empower women from all different backgrounds and different walks of life.

Halima Aden

I want to show people there's not just one way of being Muslim.

Halima Aden

There is a misconception that young Muslim women are oppressed. That simply isn't the case. I choose to dress modestly and choose to cover my hair with a hijab; not all Muslim women make that choice, and that's okay. We are all different!

Halima Aden

I feel like I'm here to bust those misconceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women.

Halima Aden

When you're a kid, to be honest, you could be in the worst situation ever, but you're still going to have ways to enjoy it.

Halima Aden

America has always been a land of diversity, basically made up of immigrants, and that is something I want to see continued. It's something I'm proud of when people think of America.

Halima Aden

A lot of people have the misconception that, as a Muslim woman, I am somehow against women wearing bikinis. No, I want women to feel comfortable and confident in whatever they wear.

Halima Aden

There is not one description of beauty - that in fact it has different faces, different stories, and different background, and it's important to embrace all of those.

Halima Aden

To be honest, before I joined the industry, I knew very little about the fashion world, and I hardly knew any name brands. Probably because the price tags were a little too high, and home girl needed to work.

Halima Aden

I'm covered up, but I'm still getting these comments that say I shouldn't be. But the girls who wear the bikinis, they're being told they're too revealing! Enough. It's their body, their choice.

Halima Aden

The fashion industry really welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. They've been very accepting of my faith. I have strict wardrobe requirements, and that's something they've upheld.

Halima Aden

It's always been hard trying to find the right pieces that go together, but it's always been something that interests me - finding new ways to be fashionable and cute but still being modest.

Halima Aden

People I looked up to a lot were, you know, Oprah because she had a rough childhood but overcame so many obstacles and broke barriers to become who she is. It was really eye opening to me: just because I had a rough childhood doesn't mean that I can't make something of myself.

Halima Aden

Always stay true to who you are - barriers can and will be broken!

Halima Aden

Shopping for hijabs has always been fun for me. I was so excited to begin wearing a headscarf. I had always looked up to my mother as she wore hers, and I was eager to emulate her beauty and the wonderful things she represented.

Halima Aden

It's important to remember all the millions of people that are starving.

Halima Aden

Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for.

Halima Aden

I don't just want to support only Muslim women. I want to inspire women across the board, and I'm hoping they won't allow things to get in the way.

Halima Aden

My goal is to send a message to Muslim women and young women everywhere that it's okay to break stereotypes and be yourself.

Halima Aden

I know that for me, a lot of people will look at me and they'll think 'Somali' or 'outsider' instead of 'Minnesota.'

Halima Aden

Wearing modest clothing is a belief, and I'm not going to say that every Muslim woman is in my shoes, but the majority of us do have a choice.

Halima Aden

I like shopping at retail places like JC Penney or Macy's, and maybe buying a top or a shirt, and then buying a skirt from Rue 21 or Forever 21 because they have the maxi skirts, which I appreciate so much, and then topping it off with something that I buy from a Somali shop.

Halima Aden

I never grew up seeing women that looked like me in magazines or on TV and didn't feel like I had a place in the world of fashion. I am honoured to be part of that change.

Halima Aden

What I do is I always try to educate myself about my neighbors, about the people I meet.

Halima Aden

My mom and grandma, growing up, one thing they emphasized was that you need to make sure that anything you put on your skin is also digestible by the body. For example, if something isn't safe for me to eat or consume, it's probably not good for your face. So I do a lot of natural remedies.

Halima Aden

I used to be so self-conscious about my braces that people thought I was shy - I just never talked. It took me a long time to realize, whatever, it's not like I'll have them forever, so I might as well enjoy it while I do!

Halima Aden

Sometimes I'll go with a long hijab, or sometimes I'll wear my scarf and go somewhat business-y with a blazer. Every day is something new.

Halima Aden

I have much more to offer than my physical appearance, and a hijab protects me against 'You're too skinny,' 'You're too thick,' 'Look at her hips,' 'Look at her thigh gap.' I don't have to worry about that.

Halima Aden